Beach cleanup hero gives up campaign
Afroz Shah says he and his volunteers are being abused by goons and hoodlums
Mumbai-based lawyer Afroz Shah says he and his volunteers are being abused by gangsters littering the Versova shore |
In October 2015, a Mumbaibased lawyer, Afroz Shah, began a clean-up campaign of Versova beach in northwestern Mumbai, an effort born out of love and concern for the sea and environment. In the weeks that followed his drive became a became a movement of sorts among Mumbaikars who joined him regularly in one of the largest beach clean-ups in the world every weekend.
His relentless crusade brought accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who praised his efforts and even a Champion of the Earth Award from the UN Environment Programme. Thousands of tonnes of plastic and garbage would be picked up every weekend by him and his volunteers, and then taken away by trucks of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The once-filthy beach became spotless and lovely.
However, after 109 weeks of ridding the beach of trash, the beach clean-up hero threw up his hands in frustration and decided to suspend his muchadmired work. His message on Twitter last week stated that he and his volunteers were being abused by goons and hoodlums who spend Saturday nights drinking and littering on the beach. When he and his volunteers arrive Sunday mornings, these hangers-on keep abusing them. It was too much to take. Tweeting about his suspension of work, he said, “Forgive me my ocean and my country.”
His relentless crusade brought accolades from Prime Minister who praised his efforts and even a Champion of the Earth Award from the UN Environment Programme.
Full support
He also blamed “administrative lethargy” in clearing the garbage gathered by the volunteers for several weeks.
Despite an overwhelming backing from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shiv Sena youth leader Aditya Thackeray, celebrities and the general public, he told Gulf News, “I have not resumed my efforts and the situation is still fluid. I have not decided. Mr Fadnavis and Aditya who I personally met on Wednesday are wonderful, sensitive leaders who offered me all support. But I told them that if the mindset of such people (unsocial elements) exist and this is the way they are going to respond, it is not possible to resume work.”